USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1946-1950 > Part 43
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to be fixed by the Town Treasurer and the bonds to be pay- able at such place as shall be designated by the Town Treasurer" by inserting the word "amended" between the words "on" and "plans" on the second line of said vote, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000. to be used to combat the spread of Dutch Elm disease, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,800. or any other sum for the purchase of a Compressor for the Water Department, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 39. To hear and act upon the report of the Feeding Hills School Building Committee, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money to purchase and install a fire whistle at the Feeding Hills Fire Station, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Board of Standards to propose regulations relative to the construction, altera- tion and maintenance of buildings in Agawam, pursuant to the provisions of General Laws, (Ter. Ed.) Chap. 143, Sec. 3 or any other appropriate statutes, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500., or any other sum, to be used for the construction of a field house at the Ben- jamin J. Phelps School, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for Insurance of Town vehicles, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,400. for the School Department to install oil burners in the High School, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000. for the School Department for the purchase and operating expenses (1950) of a
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station wagon, same to be used by the health, school lunch, athletic and superintendent's offices, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to have the Moderator appoint a committee of seven members to investigate the present and future effect of town growth on present and future school building needs, said com- mittee to have representation from each precinct and to include one selectman, one school committee member, one finance board member and one planning board member, said committee being authorized to study the needs of the various sections of Town and report back to the Town the results of its study at the first special Town meeting to be held in 1950, but in no event later than September 15, 1950, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 47. To hear and act upon the report of the committee for Recodification of the Town By-Laws, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to set up the office of Town Mechanic and to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000. to provide for same, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee of five to investigate a possible business expansion program, this committee to make a report at our next regular or special town meeting, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to change the following described property from Residence A and Residence B to Business : - Beginning at a point on the northerly side of Springfield Street 400 feet easterly of the old Feeding Hills Railroad center line and running northerly 200 feet along the easterly line of the present Business Zone; thence easterly 400 feet in a line parallel with the northerly line of Springfield Street; thence southerly 200 feet in a line parallel with the aforemen- tioned Business Zone to the northerly line of Springfield Street ; thence westerly along the northerly line of Spring- field Street 400 feet to the edge of the present Business Zone at the point of beginning.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to change the following described property from Residence A and
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Residence B to Business: Beginning at a point at the southerly end of the present business zone now established at the southerly juncture of Cooper and Main Streets, and extending in a southerly direction along the westerly side of Main Street for 379.46 feet, thence westerly at an angle of 84€ 15' for a distance of 353.65 feet; thence northerly at an angle of 77€ 56' for a distance of 460.15 feet, to a point of intersection with the present Business Zone.
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to accept North Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 53. To see if the Town will vote to accept Scherpa Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to accept William Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 55. To see if the Town will vote to accept Lincoln Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 56. To see if the Town will vote to accept Reed Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 57. To see if the Town will vote to accept Alfred Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 58. To see if the Town will vote to accept Alfred Circle as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 59. To see if the Town will vote to accept Alfred Court as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 60. . To see if the Town will vote to accept Charles Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 61. To see if the Town will vote to accept Center Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as a public street.
Article 62. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chap. 147,
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Sec. 32 to 47, inclusive, or any other statutes, relative to permitting boxing matches in the Town of Agawam, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 63. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint an inspector of wires as provided in General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 166, Section 32, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $500. to provide for same, pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 64. To see if the Town will vote to repeal a By-Law adopted March 6, 1918, which reads as follows : "An accurate record shall be kept of all expenditures for the extension of water-mains, excluding hydrants, ap- proved by the inspector and water board, and placed on file with the Town Clerk, and upon acceptance of any street there shall be refunded to the parties originally making the expenditures an amount equal to ten times the water rentals received by the town during the prev- ious twelve months from the abutting property, but the amount so refunded shall not exceed the original expendi- ture," pass any vote or take any action relative thereto.
Article 65. To see if the Town will vote to change the following described property from Residence A to Business: Beginning at a point at the northerly and easterly corner of the present business zone on the west- erly side of Suffield Street, and now or formerly owned by William Quinlan and Catherine O'Toole, and extending in a northerly direction along the westerly side of Suffeld Street for a distance of 425 feet; thence in a westerly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of 200 feet ; thence in a southerly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of 425 feet; thence in an easterly direction along the present business zone and back to the point of beginning.
Article 66. To see if the Town will vote to change the following described property from Residence B to Business : Beginning at a point 400 feet southerly of a stone bound at the southerly and westerly intersection of South Westfield and Southwick Streets; thence southerly along the westerly side of South Westfield Street for a dis- tance of 347 feet; thence in a westerly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of 200 feet; thence in a northerly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of
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347 feet; thence in an easterly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of 200 feet to the point of beginning.
Article 67. To see if the Town will vote to change the following described property from Residence A and Residence B to Business; Beginning at the westerly end of the present business zone, now existing at the northerly and westerly juncture of Colemore and Springfield Streets, and extending in a westerly direction along the northerly side of Springfield Street for a distance of 611 feet ; thence at an angle of 90 deg. in a northwesterly direction for a distance of 200 feet; thence at an angle of 90 deg. in an easterly direction for a distance of 611 feet; thence in a southerly direction at an angle of 90 deg. for a distance of 200 feet back to a point of beginning.
Article 68. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
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Annual Report of the
School Committee
and the
Superintendent of Schools
of the Town of AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS
F
M
INCOR
15.1855.
PORA
For the Year Ending December 31 1949
*
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4
206
Agawam Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
Warren C. Bodurtha, Chairman
1952
Paul J. Adams, Secretary
1950
Sydney F. Atwood
1950
Edson A. Ferrell
1951
Katherine G. Danahy
1951
Dr. Howard N. Simpson
1950
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Stanley W. Wright Telephone 2-3592 Address: 571 Main Street
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE
High School Building - 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M., School Days Appointments should be arranged in advance
SUPERINTENDENT'S SECRETARY Ellen M. Letendre Telephone 3-3259
207
SCHOOL CALENDAR -1950
Schools open - January 3
Schools close - February 24
Schools open - March 6
Schools close - April 28
Schools open - May 8
Elementary and Junior High Schools close - June 16
Senior High School closes - June 23
Schools open - September 6
Schools close - December 22
NO SCHOOL DAYS - 1950
February 22 - Washington's Birthday
April 7 - Good Friday
April 19 - Patriot's Day
May 30 - Memorial Day
October 12 - Columbus Day
October 20-Hampden County Teachers' Association Convention
November 23-24 - Thanksgiving Recess
HOURS OF SESSIONS
Senior High School 9:00 A. M. - 12:45 P. M. 1:15 P. M. - 3:00 P. M.
Junior High School 9:00 A. M. - 12:00 Noon 12:40 P. M. - 3:00 P. M.
Elementary Schools 9:00 A. M. - 12:00 Noon* 1:00 P. M. - 3:30 P. M .*
*A few variations are made in the elementary hours in the individual schools in order to accommodate the children in the cafeterias and to fit bus schedules.
208
Report of the School Committee
To the citizens of Agawam:
The new elementary school in Feeding Hills has been completed and will be dedicated on January 7, 1950 as the "Clifford M. Granger School." The School Committee voted unanimously to name this building in memory of Clifford M. Granger, who served on the School Committee for thirty-two years, most of which time having served as chairman. He was a man interested in the school pupils and the thought uppermost in his mind was to give them the best education possible.
The Building Committee, under the leadership of the very able chairman, Mr. William Vigneaux, built and equipped a building of which the citizens can be proud. As a school plant it can be called one of the best in the state. With its nine fully equipped class rooms, audi- torium, activity room, cafeteria, and clinic room this building will meet the needs of this section of the town as a school and as a community center.
The School Committee would like to impress upon the citizens of the town that crowded conditions in our schools in one section of the town affect the whole town and not just one particular section. For instance: in September, 1949, we were forced to change district lines to relieve crowded conditions at the Benjamin Phelps School. The lack of rooms in the Feeding Hills School in September, 1949, meant transporting one class to the Springfield St. School until the new building is ready January 1, 1950. Beginning January 3, 1950, one class will be transported from the Phelps School to the new Granger School in order to relieve classes of forty-three and forty-five in the primary grades.
At the opening of school in 1950, it is very probable that two more rooms will have to be transported from Agawam Center to Feeding Hills.
209
The enrollment of new pupils in September at the Springfield St. and Danahy Schools will necessitate the use of all available rooms in those buildings. This will mean that all the rooms in our elementary schools will be in use in September, 1950.
Where are we going to put the new pupils who will enter school in September, 1951? A survey taken by school officials shows a very large increase in the enter- ing class at that time. This is a serious problem which the School Committee and you citizens of Agawam will have to face during the coming year. If we are to keep ahead of the housing problem, it is the opinion of the School Committee that an eight room addition to the Phelps School will have to be constructed this coming year; thereby relieving crowded conditions in the Danahy School and leaving the Granger School to take care of the growth in Feeding Hills. We feel that it is our duty to call your attention that the state aid legislation expires on January 1, 1951. Full cost of the building approved after that date may have to be paid by the town.
REPAIRS
A new roof has been constructed at the Springfield St. School. The old slate toilets have been replaced by modern sanitary facilities. Tile floors and sidewalls are replacing the old concrete floor and plaster walls.
The boys toilet at the High School has been com- pletely remodeled with new toilets, showers, and lockers.
The oil burner installed at the Danahy School is proving very successful. It has already shown a saving in the cost of heating and also given the janitor more time for other duties.
Florescent lights have been installed in some rooms at the High School and the Danahy School.
Considerable painting has been done in all of our buildings during this year.
CONTEMPLATED REPAIRS
Remodeling the boys basement at the Danahy School by using equipment obtained from the race track.
Replacing the old worn out stokers at the High School with oil burners, thereby saving time for the
210
janitors, and eleminating the smoke nuisance caused by burning soft coal.
New floors should be laid in the corridors of the Danahy School.
One member of the School Committee, Mr. Edward A. Johnson, a man who was very interested in the schools and spent much time studying the problems of the School Department, moved from Agawam causing a vacancy on the Board. At a meeting of the School Com- mittee and the Board of Selectmen, Dr. Howard N. Simp- son was elected to fill this vacancy.
We wish to express our appreciation to the citizens of Agawam, the teachers, the janitors, and all school officials for their cooperation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN C. BODURTHA, Chairman PAUL J. ADAMS, Secretary SYDNEY F. ATWOOD EDSON A. FERRELL
KATHERINE G. DANAHY
DR. HOWARD N. SIMPSON
211
Financial Statement
December 31, 1949
Town Appropriations $313,190.00
EXPENDITURES
General Expense
$ 11,128.59
Salaries of Teachers, Supervi-
sors and Principals
185,910.06
Textbooks
3,393.92
Stationery and Supplies
8,416.24
Wages of Janitors
20,180.26
Fuel
9,096.49
Janitors' Supplies and Operating
Expenses
7,937.62
Repairs and Replacements
12,547.59
Libraries
193.47
Health
3,267.91
Transportation
17,129.50
Tuition-Trade School
4,181.09
Insurance
2,676.53
Miscellaneous Expenses
780.65
Memorial Field
265.78
Outlay - Building, Grounds and Equipment
2,957.90
Agriculture
3,862.36
Vocational Household Arts
1,912.25
Special Appropriation
17,452.69
$313,290.90
Paid by Federal Funds : Smith-Hughes and George-Barden Funds for Agriculture $529.97 For Vocational
212
Household Arts 99.13 629.10
Total Expenditures from Town Appropriations
$312,661.80
Refund
20.75
Total Expenditures less Refund
312,641.05
COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN
Total Expenditures by the Town
$312,641.05
Returns to the Town on account of schools, but not returnable to the School Department.
From the State:
School Funds and State Aid for Public Schools
$ 43,642.65
For Transportation of Pupils
9,147.00
For Agricultural Instruction 1,975.69
For Voc. Household Arts In- structions
724.32
On account of Trade School Tuition
1,440.94
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards
2,561.64
Tuition received from other Towns
466.65
Received from Manual Training Department
181.58
Received from Rental of School Property
372.00
Miscellaneous Receipts
10.98
60,523.45
Amount paid for Schools from Local Taxation
$252,117.60
213
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
December 31, 1949
To the Members of the School Committee and to the Citizens of the Town of Agawam:
I herewith submit my fourth annual report as your Superintendent of Schools.
We bring our children into the world and look for- ward to the future with hope. Each one of us wants for our own child, or children, the very best opportunities for training and experience - that is our objective in Agawam.
Up through the years, Agawam has built a strong school system which is the envy of neighboring school systems. Cities and towns look upon our Agawam schools as institutions doing an effective piece of work not only for college preparatory, commercial work, and vocational agriculture, but giving its school citizens a strong prep- aration for life through effective training in good Amer- ican democratic citzenship.
That this is true has not resulted from accident. It has resulted from a citizenry interested in its schools, strong effective administration of its schools which have been manned by capable teachers. This cannot be done overnight -it takes years of effective leadership and interest. It requires a public which places its schools above political and other influences. Agawam has pro- vided well for its schools and as a result, citizens of other communities look upon our schools as among the best in the state.
This educational leadership we will never lose, if we guard our schools with vigilance.
214
SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS IN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY
More children are now enrolled in the elementary schools of the United States than ever before in history, says the Educational Policies Commission. Next year the number will be larger. In fact, it appears probable that enrollments in elementary schools will continue to increase annually for another decade. Enrollments in the nation's secondary schools will begin to grow in about two years and may be expected to increase at least until 1960. Ten years from now, the total enrollment of elementary and secondary schools in the United States will be 25 to 30 per cent larger than at present.
TABLE OF GROWTH
Est.
Sept. Sept.
Sept. Sept. 1948 1949
Sept. 1950
1352
1468
1590
1677
1775
Net gain in school enrollment in four years-418 pu- pils or approximately 32%.
Sept. 1
Sept. 1
Sept.
Sept.
Oct. 1 1949
Nov. 1
School
1946
1947
1948
1949
1949
Phelps
306
346
365
367
379
387
Danahy
163
202
248
287
291
296
Springfld St.
171
202
226
212
213
214
C. M. Granger
91
95
116
168
160
163
Total Elem.
731
845
955
1034
1043
1060
Jr .- Sr. High
621
623
635
643
651
648
Grand Total 1352
1468
1590
1677
1694
1708
Total School Enrollment 1946
1947
Our schools have grown, and every set of statistics gathered locally indicates that our enrollments will con- tinue to grow. Besides the rapid increase in birth rates, we are a growing community. For the last three years, our property valuations have been increasing by over a million dollars a year. The educational needs arising from the increased birth rate and the new construction of homes in Agawam call for immediate public action
215
leading to long-range planning. Otherwise, needs will accumulate to the point where embarrassment will result in the not-too-distant future.
In order to hold the high reputation of our schools, efforts should be exerted to avoid the overcrowding of school rooms and school buildings, increasing the number of pupils assigned to each teacher, and curtailing the school day by operating double shifts.
Considerable variation in opinion exists on the part of the layman regarding the number of pupils per room or per teacher that is advisable in our schools. Generally, educators are strongly opposed to over 30 pupils per teacher. Many systems have considerably fewer pupils per teacher, the state average being 25.8 for elementary schools. Our average here in Agawam is 31 pupils per teacher, with many teachers having considerably more than that figure.
FUTURE SCHOOL PLANNING
Your school superintendent feels that it is his duty to place before you in this report the recommendation that there be ample school planning to meet the needs of a rapidly - growing community.
Every study that has been made has indicated that the town is growing, that the birth-rate is high, that elementary school populations are going to continue to rise and that you will eventually have a secondary school housing problem facing you.
We doubt that it would be good business to allow the building needs to accumulate. Many communities have done this and are now in the process of facing the needs all at one time.
The Clifford M. Granger School will not solve the elementary housing problem. It will help a little. At the present time, Danahy School of North Agawam houses 300 pupils, 100 more than the Wilson Report recommends. The Springfield Street School is at capacity. The Phelps School is beyond capacity with several over crowded rooms. The Granger School is ample.
Next fall, the Danahy School will be a little larger. Springfield Street will be a little larger. Phelps School will be filled with three overflow rooms transported to Granger School which will operate at capacity.
216
Let us not engage in wishful thinking. A crowded school in one area affects every other area: Danahy School is crowded because Phelps School is crowded. Feeding Hills will soon need the capacity of its own school but it will be filled to capacity because of the growth of the Agawam Center area.
The state is to pay approximately 42.13 per cent of the Granger School cost, payable yearly for twenty years. This act expires on January 1, 1951. Good business re- quires that we emphasize that date. The state will pay two-fifths of the cost of an approved building or addition if it is approved before that date.
At a special meeting of the town held during the past year, a request for an appropriation for an addition to Phelps School was turned down by the town. The construction cost was to be approximately $127,000 for eight rooms. On this, the state would pay approximately $53,000, leaving a net cost to the town of less than $75,000; about eighty cents on the tax rate if we include equipment and other costs.
We are concerned about this problem for we know that under crowded conditions the average or below average child is the one who loses. I know that, in the long run, it is costly to the town in terms of retardation.
On December 1, at Feeding Hills, you have two rooms with over 35 pupils out of five rooms. At Spring- field Street, you have a first grade with 38 pupils. At Danahy School, you have a third with 40, a fifth with 34, and a combination third and fourth with 37. At Phelps School, you have a first with 38, another first with 37, a second with 43, another second with 44, a third with 35, a fourth with 34, and a fifth with 33; with every room in the building having 30 or more pupils.
THE CLIFFORD M. GRANGER SCHOOL
The new Clifford M. Granger School is a credit to the town and to all the people who were a part in its construction. We should commend William Vigneaux, Giles Halladay, Hazel Cooley, James Kane, and Warren Bodurtha, the committee charged with the responsibility of building the school. Architect Paul B. Johnson has performed his duties in a commendable manner. The school is a definite asset to the town.
217
The school contains nine classrooms, an activity room, a clinic room, a cafeteria which seats 200, an audi- torium which seats 350, offices, etc.
OUR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
The lunch program in the Agawam schools has grown steadily since its beginning a few years ago. Again in 1949, we averaged to provide complete dinners for over eight hundred children each day throughout the school year, for a cost to the pupil of 20 cents per meal. The program operates at no cost to the town. The program provides work for nearly twenty women who are paid their salaries out of the lunch room receipts. They do not operate on a concession basis.
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